tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post6874212496862704928..comments2024-02-10T01:22:29.316-08:00Comments on Hugo Stiglitz Makes Movies: Summer of Slash: Capsule Reviews, Part 3Kevin J. Olsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17275402809912728035noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-62107148943921329392010-06-24T00:23:03.814-07:002010-06-24T00:23:03.814-07:00Quick FYI Kev, I put you up for the Versatile blog...Quick FYI Kev, I put you up for the Versatile blogger award.<br /><br />http://thingthatdontsuck.blogspot.com/2010/06/versatile-me.htmlBryce Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17040954580033470664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-31708448655315436252010-06-23T22:52:18.951-07:002010-06-23T22:52:18.951-07:00My favorite Argento's:
Deep Red, followed by ...My favorite Argento's:<br /><br /><i>Deep Red</i>, followed by <i>Suspiria</i>, followed by <i>The Bird with the Crystal Plumage</i>, and then something like <i>Opera</i> or <i>Phenomena</i> or <i>Tenebre</i> rounding out the five...depending on my mood.<br /><br /><i>Deep Red</i> is without a doubt his masterpiece, though. It takes all of the great ideas and wonderful aesthetic touches found in <i>Bird</i> and amplifies them to a level that became so effective that the film became the template for the insane experience that was synonymous with Italian horror.Kevin J. Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17275402809912728035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-89574137438551341932010-06-23T22:49:00.018-07:002010-06-23T22:49:00.018-07:00Jamie:
I like the idea, too, of a Savini top 10. ...Jamie:<br /><br />I like the idea, too, of a Savini top 10. Also, you should really check out <i>Opera</i>. Along with Soavi's <i>Stagefright</i> it's the best example of Italian horror melding with the American slasher in the late 80's when the subgenre was pretty much fresh out of ideas, and creating something exciting and exhilarating. Although be warned: <i>Opera</i> has a horrendous heavy metal soundtrack throughout, so a lot of the horror and terror of the moments and the set pieces (which are great and memorable) are kind of lost because of the annoying soundtrack that doesn't fit the mood AT ALL. <br /><br />Still, it's worth checking out (although Soavi was doing much better work than Argento at this point).Kevin J. Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17275402809912728035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-39772657390583087192010-06-23T22:45:12.254-07:002010-06-23T22:45:12.254-07:00Bob:
You say -- And Mother Of Tears? Oh my goodne...Bob:<br /><br />You say -- <i>And Mother Of Tears? Oh my goodness...Ugly, needlessly cruel, boring, way too serious and I might even say misogynistic. Simply not a drop of fun to be had.</i><br /><br />Yup. That about sums it up. Horror films are supposed to be viscerally entertaining. <i>Mother of Tears</i> just plodded along towards its inevitably cruel and ultra violent ending. I agree that this is the most misogynistic an Italian horror film has been in quite some time. Michele Soavi...we need you back!<br /><br />Thanks for stopping by, Bob, and for leaving a comment.Kevin J. Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17275402809912728035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-88275339235253729412010-06-23T22:43:05.670-07:002010-06-23T22:43:05.670-07:00Sam:
Thanks for stopping by and for linking this ...Sam:<br /><br />Thanks for stopping by and for linking this in the latest Monday morning diary. You guys make it easy to be enthusiastic with what you do over there.Kevin J. Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17275402809912728035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-58181604897381578902010-06-23T22:42:19.090-07:002010-06-23T22:42:19.090-07:00J.D.:
First, thanks for the award mention. It me...J.D.:<br /><br />First, thanks for the award mention. It means a lot. It's humbling to know that people out there like what you do. Second, I love that line, too! Although, my favorite would have to be: "C'mon Sex Machine!"Kevin J. Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17275402809912728035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-58940379944283910442010-06-23T22:41:18.754-07:002010-06-23T22:41:18.754-07:00Now, it seems like all blood just looks like oil s...<i>Now, it seems like all blood just looks like oil sprayed from a geyser, with, splattering here and there.</i><br /><br />And there we have it. Yeah, Troy, that's my biggest beef with modern horror, and it's one of the reasons why <i>Mother of Tears</i> bothered me so much. It was so vile in its excess, instead of being gleefully maniacal. <i>Inferno</i> has some really great moments, some that make me think it is -- at times -- better than <i>Suspiria</i>...but man does that Emerson soundtrack ruin a lot of great scenes. What was Argento's deal with bad prog/metal? <i>Opera</i> was the same way.Kevin J. Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17275402809912728035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-53680266875520962142010-06-23T22:39:06.067-07:002010-06-23T22:39:06.067-07:00Drew:
I've seen Full Tilt Boogie and remember...Drew:<br /><br />I've seen <i>Full Tilt Boogie</i> and remember really liking it. It was at that point that I knew I was going to like Clooney as an actor on the big screen. <br /><br />You're right, too, about Parks essentially revising his role here in <i>Kill Bill</i>. He's a great, chew-the-scenery type of actor...kind of like John Saxon, who also briefly appears in <i>From Dusk till Dawn</i>.<br /><br />Don't water your time with <i>Frankenstein</i>. It's horribly overblown. Oh, and <i>Inferno</i> is definitely worth a look...even if it is ultimately flawed.Kevin J. Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17275402809912728035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-68296929685802888652010-06-23T12:22:26.715-07:002010-06-23T12:22:26.715-07:00Jamie I would agree that those three are the great...Jamie I would agree that those three are the greatest Argentos, though I would have SUSPIRIA first. But CRYSTAL PLUMAGE has a place in my heart as I vividly remember seeing this as a teenager in the movie theatre. It scared the beejesus out of me. I know some feel it's flawed and dated, but it still works!Sam Julianonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-26843050205170107482010-06-23T10:17:49.035-07:002010-06-23T10:17:49.035-07:00yeah Troy I've seen all those except for OPERA...yeah Troy I've seen all those except for OPERA. My three 'masterpieces' I count to Argento are BIRD WITH CRYSTAL PLUMAGE, DEEP RED, and SUSPIRIA (probably in that order). So it appears we have similar feelings about him.Jamienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-81080673266203029362010-06-23T08:57:25.641-07:002010-06-23T08:57:25.641-07:00To everyone:
Thanks for the comments. I'm ju...To everyone:<br /><br />Thanks for the comments. I'm just now getting caught up with stuff after slipping away for a little mini-vacation. I'll respond to specific comments later today. Thanks again!Kevin J. Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17275402809912728035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-80838623243494827132010-06-22T12:18:39.278-07:002010-06-22T12:18:39.278-07:00Troy:
I too am a HUGE fan of Savini's work, b...Troy:<br /><br />I too am a HUGE fan of Savini's work, both as a makeup genius and as an actor. He and Rob Bottin are legends in the field.<br /><br />Kevin:<br /><br />I also wanted to add that I just bestowed the Versatile Blogger Award for all the great work you do on your blog:<br /><br />http://rheaven.blogspot.com/2010/06/versatile-blogger-award.htmlAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08164105442273577128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-51589584814866513162010-06-21T11:28:02.318-07:002010-06-21T11:28:02.318-07:00And yes, Savini does a damn good exploding head (I...And yes, Savini does a damn good exploding head (I remember when Kevin and I watched BOTH of those movies we had to rewind and rewatch the exploding head scenes...). <br /><br />I'm all for a tribute to Savini's gore effects.Troy Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14843741571724231174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-56330609523336986412010-06-21T11:23:10.721-07:002010-06-21T11:23:10.721-07:00Jamie -- With Argento, don't take the time wit...Jamie -- With Argento, don't take the time with anything post-OPERA. A couple of them have some moments, but they are mostly terrible. <br /><br />However I (and Kevin is the same on this) am a fan of pretty much everything up to and including OPERA (with CAT OF NINE TAILS being the one dud of this period). SUSPIRIA is the go to one, for sure, but I'd give TENEBRE and DEEP RED a go to see his brand of giallo, and PHENOMENA and OPERA can provide some fun as well.Troy Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14843741571724231174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-35536034551454907922010-06-21T11:12:21.623-07:002010-06-21T11:12:21.623-07:00I thought I had never seen any of these Argento...I thought I had never seen any of these Argento's, but I have seen INFERNO. Some of his other recent releases have been pretty bad so it appears I won't be seeing the other two (as I think our opinions are the same in this regard). I do think Argento's Masters of Horror entry was pretty good though. I've been debating seeing his OPERA for the horror countdown as I've never seen it? Can anyone state a review? <br /><br />I remember liking FROM DUSK TILL DAWN, at least as much as I can like a Rodriguez. I didn't like PLANET TERROR at all--and I saw GRINDHOUSE multiple times at the theater. <br /><br />Speaking of gore, and Tarantino buds I got around to HOSTEL 2 finally. What a poor film, Roth is such a freaking hack. But he does have great taste in the films he cites, which makes his inability to make a good film so strange. <br /><br />Speaking of Savini, I was thinking we need to have a 'top 10' savini films in the countdown. He's such a titan in horror circles, and rightfully so. That exploded head in THE PROWLER, or his own in MANIAC! really are something to behold.Jamienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-32391496386827639522010-06-21T10:51:07.318-07:002010-06-21T10:51:07.318-07:00I think I'm in agreement 4 for 4 with you...Lo...I think I'm in agreement 4 for 4 with you...Love the design and cinematography of Inferno, but the rest is a bit of a blur (I should revisit). Enjoyed the heck out of From Dusk Till Dawn. I remember many people saying how great it was until the vampires showed up, but I thought it was all good. Branagh's Frankenstein - dullsville. And Mother Of Tears? Oh my goodness...Ugly, needlessly cruel, boring, way too serious and I might even say misogynistic. Simply not a drop of fun to be had.Bob Turnbullhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02243657105760780425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-85414821737315093562010-06-20T13:33:15.253-07:002010-06-20T13:33:15.253-07:00I don't quite rate INFERNO as high as SUSPIRIA...I don't quite rate INFERNO as high as SUSPIRIA, but I definitely can see that regard. Yeah that FRANKENSTEIN is the worst of the any with that title, and I can definitely see the humor in FROM DUSK TILL DAWN. It's trying amazing how musch enthusiasm you are passing on for the upcoming horror poll. It's rubbing off on me too, as just earlier today I start to write down some titles! Great round-up here!Sam Julianonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-23316218695879029172010-06-20T05:59:33.544-07:002010-06-20T05:59:33.544-07:00hay..... thanks this blog.. soo now i can stay up ...hay..... thanks this blog.. soo now i can stay up to date about movies...... my favorite movie category is horror.............well done....design bloghttp://www.nuacco.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-36768079346134457772010-06-18T13:08:10.397-07:002010-06-18T13:08:10.397-07:00Love me some FROM DUSK TILL DAWN also and good cal...Love me some FROM DUSK TILL DAWN also and good call on how it is essentially a warmup for GRINDHOUSE. And like PLANE TERROR, Rodriguez populates FROM DUSK with a lot of genre vets and characters. Still my fave line from the film, "Now let's kill that fucking band!" heh!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08164105442273577128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-50294240694869306382010-06-18T12:34:20.446-07:002010-06-18T12:34:20.446-07:00INFERNO is a hard one to rate, as it has some amaz...INFERNO is a hard one to rate, as it has some amazing setpieces (that opener, plus the scene in the library, plus the ending where the villain is revealed), but as you say, it's just a mess of a story, more so than even most Italian horror.<br /><br />But comparing it to much of Argento's 90's/00's work, it's positively masterful. The guy just doesn't seem to have the eye he once had or is just tired of making movies like he used to.<br /><br />As for the DV complaint, I agree. A lot of it probably has to do with nothing more than the cheapness and easiness of shooting movies now. But some of it is surely that there is a difference between the aesthetics of film stock and of digital and too few directors have been able to that work with horror, though the possibilities are surely there. I'm probably a bit of a classicist with my horror, but it seems that old-Argento, Bava, Fulci, et al knew just how to film and light the gore scenes to make them almost have a beauty to them - they made it part of the color palette. Having just watched TENEBRE, there's the scene at the end where blood spurts from a dismembered arm for as over the top as it is, Argento frames it like artwork as the blood sprays against a white wall. Fulci in THE BEYOND has a couple scenes that I'm convinced would be more laughable if filmed in digital (the tongue, the head explosion, the throat, etc).<br /><br />Now, it seems like all blood just looks like oil sprayed from a geyser, with, splattering here and there.<br /><br />I'm just rambling off the top of my head here -- surely there is a decent conversation to be had on this (and if Jamie stops by, he may have some different thoughts, as I know he likes the new French horror films more than we do).<br /><br />Good reviews as always!Troy Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14843741571724231174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-75124122270078735552010-06-18T07:59:43.358-07:002010-06-18T07:59:43.358-07:00I, too, have always had a great fondness towards F...I, too, have always had a great fondness towards <i>From Dusk til Dawn</i>. What I love so much is how relentlessly comical it is; from the first scene - which we both agree is one of the best things in the movie - that has Parks spouting off a bevy of memorable one liners (he would sort of reprise this role in <i>Kill Bill 2</i>), to the scenes with Savini trying to hind his transformation in a vampire, as well as countless other little moments and snatches of dialogue, the movie never takes itself too seriously and benefits tremendously from it. And I love the unpredictable descent into the wildly entertaining second half. This movie pulsates with the kind of contagious energy that many movies could benefit from.<br /><br /><i>Full Tilt Boogie</i>, the documentary about the production of <i>From Dusk til Dawn</i>, is very entertaining and informative, and well worth watching for any fan of the movie. And of the two sequels filmed, the second (actually a prequel), starring Michael Parks as Ambrose Bierce, is pretty good (the other is rubbish.)<br /><br />I've never seen the Branagh <i>Frankenstein</i>, but your capsule here reminded me exactly why I've put this one off for so long. And I'm a pretty big admirer of Argento's, but haven't seen the ones you discuss here.Drew McIntoshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07054307044280470117noreply@blogger.com